Excellent Atmosphere for disabled guests
5
5
Date of visit: March 2023
I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment and moving around.
Overall Rating
Excellent
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, Leigh, for two nights as part of a National Holidays coach tour. I contacted the hotel beforehand to request a room with an accessible bathroom and Ashleigh replied to make clear, "Yes that is completely fine, we can meet this request. I can offer you an accessible Twin Room." The room had a red cord close by the bed I used. For getting out of it, the bed was at a reasonable height. Website images having informed me that the pillows would be too bulky, I brought my own. There were clothes racks at both standing height and seated height - and fitting the hanger into the hook was manageable. Taking a shower in the wet room was great, with adequate safety rails and body wash and shampoo bottles within easy reach. (There is a seat, but I didn't use it.) Unfortunately, the water failed to drain away sufficiently - but a gentleman staff member came with a squeegee and mop and dried the floor. This leads into the lovely atmosphere, that I seek to praise especially. As with other hotel chains, Holiday Inn Express have a policy that, basically, the staff will do everything they can to make your stay a happy experience. In the case of their hotel in Leigh, it is true. What I found most significant about the arrangement is that I at no point ended up feeling embarrassed or humiliated. I don't enjoy crowded spaces, so instead of eating in the dining room I took advantage of the opportunity to put my breakfast in a bag and take it away with me. I asked at Reception about this and was told where the 'to go' bags were, and to use them to help myself to whatever I wanted. Nobody looked at me askance; nobody checked how much I was taking. It was wonderful. I should add that I found the food very nice. It comprises a limited cooked breakfast and toast / baps, as well as yogurt, fruit (including fresh oranges, apples and bananas) and also bakery goodies, including muffins and croissants.
Parking & Transport
Good
The hotel forms part of a Sports Village, outside of Leigh itself. Parking there is good. Another guest spoke of catching a bus that dropped her close to the hotel. Leigh bus station is approx. 1 mile away, from where a bus into Manchester runs hourly.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
The hotel has a public accessible toilet of a reasonable size and there are grab rails. The toilet in the wet room is suitable for a mobility impaired person who struggles to use low loos.
Staff
Excellent
They made me feel good about myself and my needs. This made a real difference.
Additional Information
The room had a plug in heater, that worked fast. Plus, the window could be opened to let in cold air, although with the room I was in this meant there was traffic noise. I would 100% recommend the hotel to other people, particularly disabled persons. In fact, I already have recommended it.
